Carmelo Anthony and the Thunder are “officially circling each other,” according to Bill Simmons of The Ringer (Twitter link). As Simmons observes, Troy Weaver – Sam Presti‘s top lieutenant in Oklahoma City’s front office – has a history with Anthony, having recruited him to Syracuse a decade and a half ago.
Simmons isn’t technically a reporter, but he’s plugged in when it comes to the NBA, so his suggestion that there may be mutual interest between Anthony and the Thunder is an interesting one. The Knicks reportedly had hoped that the standout forward would expand his list of preferred destinations beyond just Houston and Cleveland, so it’s possible that Carmelo isn’t entirely zeroed in on those two teams.
Like the Rockets and Cavs, however, the Thunder wouldn’t necessarily be an ideal trade partner for the Knicks. Oklahoma City moved two of its best young players in the Paul George deal, and has committed to trading first-round picks in 2018 and 2020, limiting the club’s assets.
Steven Adams could be an interesting trade chip for OKC, but it’s not clear if the Thunder would be willing to include him in a deal for Anthony. For salary-matching purposes, Enes Kanter would likely have to be part of any offer if Adams isn’t involved, and I expect Kanter wouldn’t appeal much to the Knicks. So even if Carmelo were willing to waive his no-trade clause for the Thunder, a deal wouldn’t necessarily be any easier than it would be with the Rockets or Cavaliers.
The Trail Blazers are also interested in getting involved in the Anthony sweepstakes, though despite recruiting efforts from Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, there has been no indication that the Knicks forward is willing to accept a deal to Portland. Lillard spoke this week about his pitch to Anthony, as Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk details.
Thunder get – Melo
Lakers get – Kanter & Singler
Knicks get – Deng & Randle
Blazers get Melo
Nets get Crabbe & Ntilikina
Knicks get Russell, Harkless, and Booker
Houston gets Melo
Bucks get Anderson and Ariza
Knicks get Henson and Monroe
Cavs get Melo, Faried, Chandler, Harris, and Mudiay
Nuggets get Love, JR Smith, and Ntilikina
Knicks get Kyrie and Shumpert
worst trade proposals of all time.
I Agree 100%
Why would the Cavs try to trade love and kyrie for mello
Wtf you smoking some crazy loud.
Lol you have no room to talk
None of these make much sense to me.
They onlyh make sense money wise
I don’t understand why people continue to include Deng in trade proposals. To get rid of him, you’d need to give up a significant asset, if not multiple. And you wouldn’t be getting anything back – no one wants 3 yrs of him at that price. Same deal with anything including Ryan Anderson.
And Ntilikina can’t be traded yet. He just signed his rookie contract.
30 days from signing
Lakers wouldn’t trade for two bad contracts, Knicks wouldn’t trade for a player at KP’s position and an awful contract. Nets wouldn’t trade DLo for an average player on a bad contract and a huge gamble in Frank. Houston wouldn’t trade Ariza and Bucks wouldn’t give up Monroe’s 1 yr deal for Anderson’s 3 yr deal, especially when Monroe fits the Bucks well. Nuggets won’t trade for Love since they have Millsap
Kanter with Ball would be a poormans Nash and Amare. KP can play stretch 5.
Nets offered same contract to Crabbe as an RFA. Ntilikina is a rookie PG and the Nets have minimal young talent. But he’s got more years than Russell.
Houston wouldn’t trade Beverley…. Bucks have been trying to deal Monroe from day 1. Nuggets already tried to trade for Love and a line up of Jokic Love Milsap would be pretty stout even in the West.
Kanter has a contract similar to Deng’s and isn’t as good as Lopez and would stunt Zubac’s growth. No reason for LA to trade for him
I agree that KP can play stretch 5. But NY wouldn’t take on the Deng contract or else they would’ve taken Ryan Anderson’s contract and traded Melo to Houston.
DLo has at least proven that he does have potential in the NBA. Ntilikina is still a huge risk that I don’t think the Nets would or should take at this point.
If Houston was willing to trade Ariza, Melo would already be in Houston. Bucks have been trying to trade Monroe because he restricts cap space. Anderson has a longer term deal for the same amount of annual money, that’s why I say it doesn’t make sense. Nuggets did try to trade for Love but that was before they picked Millsap. Having both is unnesecary since they couldn’t play together without being awful on defense and Denver would be giving up three nice wing players for a bad fit at this point
These all make some sense esp money wise.
Not like I said Eric Bledsoe for Melo and 4 1st round picks….
I like the Cavs, Nuggets, Knicks trade proposal
3 team deal …NY is getting good Kylie by any means. More teams want Melo better off our chances in landing Kyrie
The Houston one isnt half bad from the knicks prospective but id want Maker as well.
Yet another team that dosent really have shit to offer the Knicks lol
knicks aren’t getting real value for melo. They can draw this out however long they want, they won’t get much
Don’t expect a good trade for Melo unless Kyrie is part of the package (a likely larger package involving a third team). Melo’s NTC really limits the Knicks’ leverage. Add in Melo’s trade kicker (which he could waive or reduce) to his already high salary and you’re talking about the Knicks (or a third team) acquiring at least one really bad contract and another bad contract. If the Knicks are somehow able to convince a third team to take on a contract they don’t want, it will likely come at the price of future firsts or Ntilikina (and maybe Hernangomez). Basically, don’t expect a budding young superstar or a trove of first round picks going to the Knicks unless they are willing to take on at least one bad contract.
This x1000
People listen to bill Simmons?
Well, since he’s making piles more money than you are based on his podcast ads alone, I’d say yes, people do listen to Bill Simmons.
Judging by the fact that you’re an internet commenter, you probably wish you were him, which makes it odd you’d throw shade at him so casually
Damn bro. Are you his twin brother Phil Simmons?
I mean, if I was, don’t you think I’d be a regular guest on his podcast?
You are letting the family down man.
There is zero way for OKC to get him. He would be amazing there, but nobody is taking Manger or Singlet, and the Thunder don’t really have any assets they can move
*sigh* autocorrect
The Knicks messed up when they re-signed Melo with that ridiculous contract. He’s the most expensive 6th man/3-pt specialist in NBA history.
Yes, the Knicks clearly messed up by giving Melo such a one-sided contract, in Melo’s favor, and yes, Melo is not quite the player he once was…
But…for someone to say that Melo is nothing more than a 6th man/3-point specialist, well that just shows pure ignorance…Even at this stage in Melo’s career, he is still a more than capable scorer, and he is still an under appreciated passer and play-maker…He has quite clearly never been a good defensive player, but in the correct system, Melo can pass as an adequate defender and a fairly mediocre to good rebounder…
I am not a Melo fan by any means, but if you have ever watched him when he plays with other talented players, then you will notice he can be a completely different player. His main problem has always been the fact he lacks trust in his teammates to get the job done. When he is surrounded by players he trusts, he makes good reads and passes on offense, he won’t dribble as much, he moves more without the ball, and he just seeks to play with more of a fire and passion…
The biggest problem is, besides maybe one or two players earlier on in his career, Melo hasn’t had that consistent player/mentor on his team that will stay on his rear-end!! Melo needs to be the #2, for him to truly succeed, and that #1 needs to be someone he trusts and admires. Chris Paul would be the perfect example of a guy that could truly get the best out of Melo…It won’t be what he once had, in terms of his overall abilities, but if Melo plays with Paul and Harden, people will see a different Carmelo Anthony…I can promise you that, and he will undoubtedly suprise alot of his doubters…
Say what you will about a player that needs to be playing alongside a mentor, or that needs to be a team’s #2 for him to be fully motivated, and for him to play at his best, but it just is what it is. It is just not in everyone’s DNA to be the #1 guy…However, even still now, Carmelo is much more than just a 6th man/3-point specialist…Like I said, that statement just shows apparent ignorance, and a clear lack of knowledge about the game of basketball…
Straight facts
Knicks cant continue messing up!!! They need to get some juice if they trade Melo